Cervical dilators

ABSTRACT

A surgical kit includes a set of cervical dilators having probes of different diameters and handles of identical size and configuration and color coded to the probe diameter. Each dilator is integrally formed of a synthetic polymer and includes a downwardly angulated probe of uniform diameter except at its distal end where it is tapered to the axis between 0.5* and 1.5* from between 0.5-2.0 inches from its rounded tip for a distance between 0.5 and 2.0 inches. A handle is formed at the probe proximate end and is relatively flat with a finger accommodating depression in its lower face and is provided with a circular shield adjacent the probe.

United States Patent 1 Adler [451 July 24, 1973 CERVICAL DILATORS [76]Inventor: Barry G. Adler, 49 Pomona Rd.,

Suffern, N.Y. 10901 [22] Filed: Nov. 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 195,138

52 us. Cl. 128/341, 128/303.11 [51] Int. Cl. A6lm 29/00, A61b 17/36 [58]Field of Search 128/341, 303.11, 1 128/304 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,144,220 6/1915 Maguire 128/341 3,648,683 3/1972 Brodie128/341' 241,569 5/1881 Stohlmann et al 128/341 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 205,105 10/1924 Great Britain 128/341 146,784 7/1920 GreatBritain 128/341 14,428 11/1885 Great Britain 128/341 OTHER PUBLICATIONSComprehensive Guide to Purchasing Cat. No. 65 Mueller & Co. 1963 Page250 RD76M8 1963.

Primary Examiner-Aldrich F. Medbery Attorney-Hyman Berman et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A surgical kit includes a set of cervical dilators havingprobes of different diameters and handles of identical size andconfiguration and color coded to the probe diameter. Each dilator isintegrally formed of a synthetic polymer and includes a downwardlyangulated probe of uniform diameter except at its distal end where it istapered to the axis between 05 and 1.5? from between 0.5-2.0 inches fromits rounded tip for a distance between 0.5. and 2.0 inches. A handle isformed at the probe proximate end and is relatively flat with a fingeraccommodating depression in its lower face and, is provided with acircular shield adjacent the probe.

lllClaims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented July 24, 1973 INVENTOR. Bmznv 1-flbLfiR FIG.8

1 CERVICAL DILATORS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates. generally to improvements in surgical instruments and itrelates particularly to an improved set of cervical dilators.

In the performance of therepeutic abortion the dilation of the cervix isthe most time-consuming and dangerous part of the procedure, thegreatest problems occurring with dilation in the nulliporous patient. Indilating the cervix, oncethe cervix opens and admits the dilator, theretends to be a thrust as a result of the pressure applied by the surgeonand the consequentleap forward is the cause of perforation and there isa very high incidence of laceration. The cervical dilators heretoforeavailable and proposed possess numerous drawbacks and disadvantages.While cervical dilators are generallyprovided in graduated-sizes theyare of such construction asto be awkward to handle and manipulate anddifficultfor complete control by the operator and they are usuallyhighly uncomfortable and frequently painful to'the patient who generallyrequires either general or local anesthesia. Furthermore, with theconventional cervical dilator, it is difficult to sense itsposition andthe state andcondition of the surrounding surface and these dilatorsotherwise leave muchto be desired. i I

SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION mum sensing and control independently ofthe sizethereof. I

.A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedcervical dilator in which minimum pain and discomfort is caused thepatient and the need for either local or general anesthesia is generallyobviated.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide cervicaldilators of the above nature character ized by the minimum danger ofperforation or laceration with their use, their high reliability,versatility and adaptability and their low cost.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of asurgical kit comprising a plurality of cer vical dilators, each dilatorincluding a nonlinear elongated probe terminating at its distal end in arounded tip and provided at its proximate end with a handle of and 2.0inches long at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the probe of between05 and l.5. The probe is preferably bent intermediate its ends to form acurved elbow delineating the probe into linear proximate and distalsections. The handle is substantially flat and provided with a fingeraccommodating recess in its top face and is separated from the probe bya circular shield. The handles are color coded to correspond to thedifferent probe diameters.

The improved cervical dilators permit a procedure with optimum sensingand control and a minimum danger of perforation or laceration,substantially independently of the nature and condition of the patient.The patient experiences a minimum of pain and discomfort thereby greatlyobviating the need for localor general anesthesia.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevatlonal view ofa cervical dilator embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof; i

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 in FIG. 2; i

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the dilator handle section;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view takenalong line 5- 5 in FIG. 1;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingwhich illustrates a pre; ferred embodiment of the present invention, thereference numeral 10 and 10A generally represent two of the improvedcervical dilators of a kit or set thereto which differ from each otherprimarily in the diameters of the probe sections of the dilators and areotherwise substantially identical in shape and dimensions as will behereinafter set forth. The improved set of cervical dilators may includeany desired number of dilators, the probe diameters varying by anydesired uniform or varying increment, for example, the probe diametersmay vary by 1 or k millimeter increments and, for example, from 5millimeters to 12 millimeters diameter. Each of the cervical dilators 10is advantageously formed by injection molding of a synthetic organictheremoplastic polymeric resin, such as nylon, polyolefins, for examplemedium or high impact polypropylene or the like. 7

The cervical dilator includes a handle 11, a probe 12 and a shield 13between the handle 11 and probe 12. The handle 11 extends longitudinallyfrom shield 13 and has a curved trailing free edge 14 parallellongitudinal side edges 16 and leading edgesl7 which converge from sideedges 16 to the rear face of shield section l3proximate its outerborder. The handle 11, for a major part of its length from shield 13 istransversely upwardly convex and of substantially uniform thickness toprovide a finger accommodating recess 18 in its underface, the leadingface 19 of the recess18 being downwardly curved and the rear face 20thereof being likewise downwardly curved to a flat underface at thetrailing end of handle 11. The top face 22 of handle 11 is smoothlycurved along its border to the handle peripheral face. The handle 11 hasa number or other indicia 23 formed in a face thereof identifying thediameter of the probe 12, for example it may be a number equal to theprobe diameter in millimeters. in addition the handle 11 is colored inwhole or in part to likewise provide an indication of the probediameter.

The probe 12 is an elongated angulated rod of circular transverse crosssection and includes a linear proximate section 24 and a linear distalsection 26 joined by an intermediate curved elbow section 27, theproximate section being colinear with handle 11 and the distal section26 being downwardly forwardly inclined. The angle between the proximateand distal sections 24 and 26 is advantageously between 8.0 and 18.0,for example 12 in the illustrated embodiment. The diameter of the probe12 is, except for the distal end portion 28 thereof, of substantiallyuniform diameter, for example 0.256 inch.

The distal end portion 28 starts between 0.5 and 1.5 inches from thedistal end of the probe, for example 1 inch, and tapers uniformly at asection 29 for at least 0.5 inch for example, 0.7, at an angle A to theprobe longitudinal axis (see FIG. 9) of between 05 and l.5, for example49. Thereafter the taper increases at an increasing rate as at 30, forexample at a radius of curvature of 0.650 inches to a rounded tip 32. Itis important to note that the slight taper at section 29 a shortdistance rearwardly of the probe tip greatly improves the applicationand manipulation of the cervical dilator.

The length of the probe section 26 is advantageously between 1.5 and 3.2inches, for example, 2.7 inches, and the length of the handle is about 1'4 inches and its width'is about 34 inch.

The cervical dilator A is, except for the diameter of the probe 33thereof and the specific dimensions of the distal'portion 34 of probe33, identical with the dilator 10 and is another of the set of cervicaldilators. For example, in the dilator 10 the diameter of the probe 12 isabout 0.256 inch and in the dilator 10A the diameter of the probe 33 isabout 0.453 inch. In both probes l2 and 33 the tapered distal portions28 and 34 respectively start 1 inch rearwardly of the ends of theprobes. The length of the uniform tapered section 28 is about 0.7 inchand the diameter decreases from a diameter D1 of 0.256 to a diameter D20.236 inch or about 0.02 inch and the length of the uniform taperedsection 34 is about 0.58 inch and decreases from a diameter D1 of 0.453inch to a diameter D2 of 0.433 inch, likewise about 0.02 inch. in theillustrated embodiment the dilator kitincludes eight dilators in whichthe probes vary in diameter by l millimeter increments from 0.217 inchesto 0.472 inches, it being noted that other increments may be used, forexample, 0.5 millimeter increments. The handle 36 and shield 37 ofdilator 10A is similar in shape and dimensions to handle 11 and shield13 as are the handles and shields of the other dilators. The handle 36is colored and carries indicia indentifying the probe diameter.

The improved cervical probe is employed in the known manner. However byreason of the construction and the uniformity of the handles much higherand informative sensing is realized, a much greater degree of control inhandling and manipulation achieved. Moreover, considerably less pain anddiscomfort is experienced by the patient.

While there have been described and illustrated preferred embodiments ofthe present invention it is apparent that numerous alterations omissionsand additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof Whatis claimed is:

l. A surgical dilator comprising:

a. an elongated probe having a substantially rounded b. a taperedsection commencing at said rounded tip and extending along said probefor a distance of between 0.5 and 1.5 inches;

0. said tapered section having a taper defined by an angle A withrespect to the longitudinal axis, where A has a value between 0.5" andl.5.

2. The surgical dilator set forth inclaim 1, wherein said probecomprises a section of uniform diameter contiguous to said taperedsection.

3. The surgical dilator set forth in claim 2, further including a flathandle at the end of said probe remote from said rounded tip, saidhandle having a finger depression therein.

4. The surgical dilator set forth in claim 2, wherein I said probe isbent intermediate its ends at an angle of between 8 and 18, forming afirst probe portion comprising said handle and part of said section ofuniform diameter and a second probe portion comprising said rounded tip,said tapered section and the remaining part of said section of uniformdiameter.

5. The surgical dilator set forth in claim 4, further including acircular shield between said probe and said handle.

6. The surgical dilator set forth in claim 1, wherein said probe isformed of a synthetic organic polymeric resin.

7. A plurality of surgical dilators as set forth in claim 1 assembledinto a kit, the probe diameters of each of said dilators being differentand the configurations thereof being otherwise substantially the same.

8. The kit set forth in claim 7, wherein said probe diameters aregraduated in one millimeter increments.

9. The kit set forth in claim 8, further including indicia on eachdilator denoting its probe diameter.

10. The kit set forth in claim 9, wherein said indicia comprises colorcoding.

1. A surgical dilator comprising: a. an elongated probe having asubstantially rounded tip; b. a tapered section commencing at sAidrounded tip and extending along said probe for a distance of between 0.5and 1.5 inches; c. said tapered section having a taper defined by anangle A with respect to the longitudinal axis, where A has a valuebetween 0.5* and 1.5*.
 2. The surgical dilator set forth in claim 1,wherein said probe comprises a section of uniform diameter contiguous tosaid tapered section.
 3. The surgical dilator set forth in claim 2,further including a flat handle at the end of said probe remote fromsaid rounded tip, said handle having a finger depression therein.
 4. Thesurgical dilator set forth in claim 2, wherein said probe is bentintermediate its ends at an angle of between 8* and 18*, forming a firstprobe portion comprising said handle and part of said section of uniformdiameter and a second probe portion comprising said rounded tip, saidtapered section and the remaining part of said section of uniformdiameter.
 5. The surgical dilator set forth in claim 4, furtherincluding a circular shield between said probe and said handle.
 6. Thesurgical dilator set forth in claim 1, wherein said probe is formed of asynthetic organic polymeric resin.
 7. A plurality of surgical dilatorsas set forth in claim 1 assembled into a kit, the probe diameters ofeach of said dilators being different and the configurations thereofbeing otherwise substantially the same.
 8. The kit set forth in claim 7,wherein said probe diameters are graduated in one millimeter increments.9. The kit set forth in claim 8, further including indicia on eachdilator denoting its probe diameter.
 10. The kit set forth in claim 9,wherein said indicia comprises color coding.